Tuesday, December 31, 2013

End of the Year - Looking Forward

I just paid the bills for December.  I'll walk them to the mail box in a bit.  It's gray and chilly outside, with lingering fog.  But I'll get out for my exercise walk this afternoon.  I think we'll go see a movie tonight before returning home to watch the Space Needle fireworks on TV and welcome in the New Year.

Tom is off working on more projects at Jill's house.  The hot tub is almost in running order after a month of tinkering.  Tom, his sister and an neighbor worked on it yesterday while Jill and the kids got the outdoor storage shed erected.  A while ago Jill reported in that the furnace doesn't work.  Tom has her checking the oil level.  Tom just texted me that the tank is empty, and just now I got a message that the oil company will have a truck there this afternoon.  One thing after another.

Where was I during all of this?  I'm working on me.  Last February I posted here that I would be continuing to work on my health through exercise and weight control.  I am a few pounds heavier that I was that February day, and those are pounds I don't want.  I walked 4.5 miles yesterday and did all of my physical therapy exercises.  I am back to recording everything I eat and telling myself I don't even like those cookies sitting there on the counter, left over from Christmas.  It's a lie, but it's helping.

I also spent quite a bit of time scheduling appointments and getting my 2014 planning calendar filled out.  My back surgery is January 31, and I had a phone appointment to go over the preparation for that.   I need lab tests, an EKG, a pre-op physical, a visit to the hospital for more blood work, a date to schedule my post-op visit with the surgeon, and cut off dates for taking NSAIDS and finally, food.  I am also due for my every-two-years echo cardiogram for that aortic valve thingy that I forget about most of the time.  And I want to lose a few more pounds because I will not be getting much exercise during the three months after surgery.  

And so Project Me is back in full force.

Tomorrow the new year begins.  In many ways it will just be a continuation of the old year.  I will spend the day taking down Christmas decorations.  I'm ready.  Then I want to do a thorough house cleaning and reordering.  I have been losing things, and  I want to find them!  

And each day there will be walking and exercising and trying to eat more healthily.  

And there will be more projects at Jill's house.  We can count on that!

Happy New Year, everyone.  Stay well and happy.

17 comments:

  1. You definitely have a good plan. I have found keeping a food diary is the only thing that works for me.
    Good idea to get into the best shape possible for the surgery. Hope they give you physical therapy afterwards.
    Keep up all your good work. It will pay off.
    Have a wonderful evening and hope 2014 brings you renewed health, happy days, and peaceful times.

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  2. Sounds like you are getting organized! With your surgery just a month away I am sure that is your driving force:)

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  3. Be good to yourself in all ways. A toast for a healthy 2014 for you and all who surround you.

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  4. Good luck with your health challenges. I'm sure you can get there

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  5. Wishing you a happy, healthy new year!

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  6. Sounds like you have everything under control, to the extent that you can. I hope 2014 brings you health, happiness and peace.

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  7. you have such a strong will that I have no doubt you can and will do anything you set out to do

    wishing you and your beautiful family all good things

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  8. our health needs to be #1 priority! good luck with your plans and resolves! you can do it!

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  9. Dear Linda,
    here's wishing you and your family a happy and healthy new year.
    I love reading your gorgeous blog.
    All the best for your upcoming back surgery.

    Warm regards from Germany
    Karin

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  10. I know what you mean by pre-op events. I went through the same thing before I had hernia surgery in 2012. Good luck and best wishes, Linda. Aloha from Hawaii.

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  11. Happy New Year, Linda! I'm hoping for successful surgery for you. I had success losing weight by cutting out processed sugar, cutting down on fruit and upping my fresh vegetables, and cutting back on processed grains. It helps most to just not have them in the house.

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  12. January 31 will be here before long, but you will be ready. I can tell by the way you are planning... but then again, you always seem to manage twice as much as most people do in the same amount of time. Happy New Year! It sounds like it's starting out just right. :-)

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  13. Busy busy---You all just tire me out.
    We took down our tree and decorations last week and now are busy cleaning and rearranging. Gotta do it!
    Love your post about your family---with pictures too. Thanks.
    Happy New Year to you and your family,
    MaryBeth

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  14. There's no better New Year's Resolution than yours: "Each day there will be walking and exercising and trying to eat more healthily."

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  15. You are so determined --those extra pounds do not have a chance! Your healthy eating and exercise before your surgery will really help with recuperation.

    And yes, isn't it amazing that with homes, there is ALWAYS yet another project.

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  16. I didn't know about that back surgery coming up. I'm hoping the recuperation is easy and pain free.

    I'm glad you're working on YOU, Linda. We do have to take control of ourselves. I'm trying, I'm trying. You have so much better resolve than I do. You're my inspiration! Good luck with finding all the things you think you might be missing. :-)

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